May 9, 2009
Notes for the May 9 Game in PDF Format
HOUSTON, Texas (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF only trailed 4-2 going into the bottom of the sixth at No. 2 Rice, but that was when the Owls plated four runs on the bullpen to put the game away in the Knights' 10-2 loss Saturday in Houston. The Black and Gold (19-31, 7-13 Conference USA) will now try to take the series from the Owls (32-13, 14-6) when the finale gets underway Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.
Senior Eric Kallstrom added his third home run of the season in the top of the first, giving the Knights 65 long balls on the year. UCF needs just one more homer to tie the school's single-season record of 66 set in 1998.
Senior Jaager Good made the start for the Knights and surrendered just three earned runs in 5.0 innings. The righty struck out five and limited the Owls to only four hits. The weekend trio of Good and fellow seniors Caleb Graham and Kyle Sweat have now hurled at least 5.0 innings in nine-straight C-USA starts.
Facing All-American candidate in Rice's starting pitcher Ryan Berry, Kallstrom jumped on a 1-0 fastball immediately in the first, driving it over the 375-foot sign in left-center to give UCF the initial lead. That would be erased in the bottom half, where Brock Holt led off with a solo dinger of his own against Good.
After Good retired the side in order in the second, the Owls placed runners at the corners with two down for Anthony Rendon, who lined a hard shot to third that was snared by freshman Jake Huxtable. However his throw sailed high and Rendon got to second on the RBI infield hit and error. Two more then scored by way of a Rick Hague double to left.
Trailing for the first time this weekend, the Knights had hopes of a comeback in the fifth. Following a leadoff walk issued to freshman D.J. Hicks, junior Chris Duffy found the right-center gap in the next at-bat, bringing in Hicks from first base. Looking to steal that run back, Rice's Ryan Lewis drove a one-out triple to the right-center fence and was poised to make it 5-2. However, Good stayed calm, striking out Chad Mozingo. After walking Rendon, Good went 3-0 on Hague before battling back to pick up another strikeout, his fifth of the afternoon.
When the Black and Gold went to its bullpen in the sixth, though, the Owls took advantage of the change, scoring four runs, three unearned, to stretch its lead to 8-2. Rice's final runs came across on a two-run jack from Rendon in the eighth.
Tickets are on sale now for UCF's final three home games of the season against Houston May 14-16, which includes Senior Day before the series finale against the Cougars. Call the UCF Ticket Office at (407) 823-1000 for more information. Fans may also visit UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, and is the home of UCF's online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
Game Notes
UCF - 19-31 Overall, 7-13 Conference USA
No. 2 Rice - 32-13 Overall, 14-6 Conference USA
WP: Ryan Berry (5-0), 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
LP: Jaager Good (1-6), 5.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 5 K
- By adding one more hit Saturday, Chris Duffy is now 28-for-75 with a .373 average and 13 extra-base hits since posting three hits at Memphis April 4. The Orlando native also has 11 multi-hit games, 24 RBI and 14 runs scored over his last 19 contests.
- Cory Weech made his 26th appearance of the year, tying him with Zach Sutton for seventh on the UCF single-season list.
- Brandon Romans paced the Knights' offense with two hits, while Chris Duffy and D.J. Hicks each notched a double.